By TRN
Online, Kathmandu, June 5: A food laboratory for testing food samples entering
India from Nepal has been set up in Raxaul of India today.
According to
a press release by the Embassy of India in Nepal, the National Food Laboratory
(NFL) was inaugurated by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family
Welfare, Government of India.
The
inauguration took place in the presence of Minister for Agriculture and
Livestock Development, Govervment of Nepal, Mahendra Rai Yadav.
The NFL at
Raxaul, established by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is
a modern facility equipped with advanced facilities and infrastructure for
testing of food samples entering India. It will support enhanced bilateral
trade between India and Nepal by reducing the time taken for testing samples of
food and agricultural exports of Nepal which currently need to be sent to Delhi
or Kolkata for testing, read the press release.
The creation
of an upgraded laboratory at Raxaul was a longstanding request of Nepal’s
exporters which now stands fulfilled. The NFL is yet another reflection of
India’s commitment to improve connectivity, trade and border infrastructure
with Nepal as part of its “Neighbourhood First” policy, the embassy said.